International Assistance: requests for the property until 1998

Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1998

IUCN and the Centre have been informed of a proposed cable construction project into the centre of the Park. The feasibility of the project, proposed by a private individual concerned with tourism development, is questionable due to the heavy rains, high winds and steep terrain which characterise the site. The construction of major access facilities in this area is not consistent with the management plan of the Park. IUCN has been advised by the Dominican authorities that they will exercise great caution when considering this project.

Action Required

The Bureau requests the Centre to contact the Dominican authorities to obtain detailed information on the project and request them to keep the Centre and IUCN fully informed of progress in their review of the cable construction project proposal.

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1998

At its twenty-second session, the Bureau was informed of a cable car construction project through the centre of this Park, proposed by a private individual concerned with tourism development. The feasibility of the project is questionable due to the heavy rains, high winds and the steep-terrain that characterises this site. The construction of major access facilities in this area is not consistent with the management plan of the Park, and the Bureau was in agreement with IUCN that the Dominica authorities need to exercise great caution when evaluating the feasibility of this proposal. The Director of the Centre visited the site during his participation in the International Conference on the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention in the Caribbean (2-5 August 1998). He observed that the project foresees the “sky-train”, taking visitors to the heart of the core area and was of the view that the proposed project is unlikely to be compatible with Dominica’s obligations under the Convention for conservation of this site. The Government of Dominica, via its letter of 7 July 1998, informed the Centre that the terms of reference for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the proposal have been prepared and reviewed by the Natural Resource Management Unit of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. The terms of reference have also been forwarded to the proponent of the cable way system. The Government informed the Centre that the report of the EIA would be submitted to the Centre for review as soon as it is available.

The Bureau noted that the State Party is carrying out an EIA on the cable car construction project. The Bureau drew the attention of the State Party to IUCN’s view that the location foreseen for the cable car construction would be inappropriate and inconsistent with the management plan. The Bureau invited Dominica to submit a report on the outcome of the EIA and the status of the cable car development proposal before 15 April 1999.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1998

Adopted

Draft Decision

22 BUR V.B.25

Morne Trois Pitons National Park (Dominica)

IUCN and the Centre have been informed of a proposed cable car construction project through the centre of the Park. The feasibility of the project, proposed by a private individual concerned with tourism development, is questionable due to the heavy rains, high winds and steep terrain which characterise the site. The construction of major access facilities in this area is not consistent with the management plan of the Park. IUCN was advised by the Dominican authorities that they will exercise great caution when considering the feasibility of this proposal.

The Bureau requested the Centre to contact the State Party to obtain detailed information on the proposal and requested that the Centre and IUCN be kept fully informed of progress in their review of the cable construction project proposal.

22 COM VII.27

Reports on the State of Conservation of Natural Properties Noted by the Committee

VII.27 The Committee noted the decisions of the twenty-second extraordinary session of the Bureau as reflected in the Report of the Bureau session (Working Document WHC-98/CONF.203/5) and included in Annex IV on the following properties:

Heard and McDonald Islands (Australia)

Shark Bay, Western Australia (Australia)

Wet Tropics of Queensland (Australia)

Belovezhskaya Pushcha/Bialowieza Forest (Belarus/Poland)

Iguacu National Park (Brazil)

Dja Faunal Reserve (Cameroon)

Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (Canada)

Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area (China)

Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area (China)

Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area (China)

Los Katios National Park (Colombia)

Morne Trois Pitons National Park (Dominica)

Nanda Devi National Park (India)

Whale Sanctuary of El Viscaino (Mexico)

Royal Chitwan National Park (Nepal)

Sagarmatha National Park (Nepal)

Arabian Oryx Sanctuary (Oman)

Huascaran National Park (Peru)

The Committee noted that the Bureau's decision reflected the suggestion to establish an informal contact group on mining and World Heritage and that the IUCN "Draft Policy on Mining and Protected Areas" will be circulated.

Kamchatka Volcanoes (Russian Federation)

Virgin Komi Forests (Russian Federation)

Skocjan Caves (Slovenia)

Thung Yai-Huay Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries (Thailand)

St. Kilda (United Kingdom)

Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)

Durmitor National Park (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)

The Committee noted the UN official name for the State Party: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

22 BUR VIII.1

Requests for International Assistance

Dominica (Technical Co-operation for the Morne Trois Pitons National Park inscription ceremony and Regional Conference on the World Heritage Convention)

The Bureau approvedUS$ 30,000 for the organization of this regional conference.

United Republic of Tanzania (Technical Co-operation for a Natural Heritage Workshop for “Kilimanjaro Stakeholders”)

The Bureau approvedUS$ 30,000, subject to the Tanzanian authorities providing information concerning other organizations contributing to the activity and confirming the exact dates of the Workshop.

CULTURAL HERITAGE

Bulgaria (Technical Co-operation for the purchase of dehumidifying equipment for the Boyana Church)

The Bureau approved up to US$ 25,000 for this request on the condition that the UNESCO Purchasing Unit assist the State Party in purchasing the necessary equipment.

Colombia (Technical Co-operation for the conservation of the National Archaeological Park of Tierradentro)

The Bureau approvedUS$ 30,000 for the structural conservation of the burial chambers at this site.

Syrian Arab Republic (Technical Co-operation for the restoration and conservation of the Roman Baths in the south of the Ancient City of Bosra)

The Bureau approvedUS$ 30,000 for the restoration and conservation of the Roman Baths within the Ancient City of Bosra.

Turkey (Technical Co-operation for the “House of Fatih Inhabitants” within the Historic Centre of Istanbul)

The Bureau postponed the approval of this request for US$ 30,000 to its twenty-second extraordinary session.

The Bureau requested that maps clearly indicating the core and buffer zone of the Historic Centre of Istanbul as well as further detailed budget breakdown information be submitted to the Bureau for its examination.

Cambodia (Emergency Assistance for the restoration of the steps of the West Moat of Angkor Wat)

In view of the fact that the Emergency Assistance Reserve of the World Heritage Fund for 1998 was exhausted at the time this request was submitted, the Bureau approvedUS$ 28,595 under the Technical Co-operation budget for carrying out the hydrological and topographical studies.

The Bureau recommended that the State Party requests further funding under the 1999 World Heritage Fund budget after the completion of these studies.

Sri Lanka (Emergency Assistance for the Sacred City of Kandy)

In view of the fact that the Emergency Assistance Reserve of the World Heritage Fund for 1998 was exhausted at the time this request was considered, the Bureau approvedUS$ 25,000 out of the Technical Co-operation budget, to carry out the initial emergency measures for Dalada Maligawa, including a provision for an ICOMOS or ICCROM expert mission.

The Bureau recommended the State Party to request further funding under the 1999 World Heritage Fund budget.

* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).